Rainy Day Blues and Happy News

Hello Readers!

Good news!  I am moving on to the final stage of my comprehensive exams: the oral defense!  This means that I am even closer to graduating with an M.A. in Communication! Just a few more weeks left until I am FREE (well, sort of).

In a post last month I wore a wool dress and secretly hoped for another occasion to wear the dress, a day cool enough to permit a dress of this weight and warmth. Well, in the last week of April (today) I got my chance. I almost put the dress away for the fall, but with the unpredictability of the Midwest I trusted that the dress might get one more wear before the weather is supposed to be cool.

Department of Communication!

As you can see, I styled it a bit differently today and went with a palette of greys and blues.  It's amazing how much you can change the look of a piece of clothing with the right arrangement of accessories and layering. I also wore my BR trench coat for warmth and rain resistance, but forgot to take a picture with it on.

Retail Details:

Grey Wool Ruffled Suit: Nordstrom Rack
Navy and Black Windmill Bow: Anthropologie
Teal Tights: Hue (from Bergner's or Martin + Osa)
Charcoal Pumps: Cole Haan (purchased at Macy's)

Hope you all had a wonderful Wednesday!

Career Fair!

Greetings Readers!

Today I attended a career fair on campus. Another reminder that graduate school is nearly over and the time to start a job is drawing near. Very near.

Equipped with a resume full of experiences, a smile on my face, fancy business cards and confidence in my heart- this morning I had everything I needed to impress prospective employers except for the perfect outfit.

Here is what I came up with:

I was going to wear the pants that matched my jacket, thus completing the suit, but I decided, instead, to mix things up a bit. I think my outfit was appropriate for the occasion, but I'm not sure if my personality came through as much as I hoped it would. But, how much of your personality or style should you display at a career fair?

Whether or not this outfit had a great personality, I did stay true to some of my favorite colors to wear: pastel pink, grey, and navy blue.

Anyways, the career fair went pretty well, and I feel good about the contacts I made. Overall, a wonderful Wednesday!

Retail Details:

Navy Blue Pinstripe Suit Jacket: J. Crew

Light Pink Button Down Shirt: Banana Republic, featured here

White Lace Trim Tank: Gilly Hicks

Charcoal Patent-Leather Belt: Ann Taylor

Dark Grey Pencil Skirt: Banana Republic

Grey Tights: Macy's

Charcoal Pumps: Cole Haan

Loveliness on Valentine's Day

Hello Readers!

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day! My Valentine's Day was great! Yes, I am single, and yes I used to wear black on Valentine's Day- but this year I embraced my situation and gained a new appreciation for the abundance of love in my life. Love from God, love from my family, love from my friends- I am surrounded by love!

I've never had a real Valentine on Valentine's Day, and the occasion made me feel a bit left out of the festivities and honestly, a bit bitter. Hence the reason for donning black. I thought that by doing this, I was making a statement, rebelling against a commercialized representation of love. (Wow- I guess I was more bitter than I thought I was back then). Anyways, this year I thought "what's so bad about celebrating love?"

And so, that brings us to yesterday. I did not wear any black on Valentine's day. Instead, I wore an outfit that makes me feel lovely. Not just in an external way (although I love how the clothing looks), but also in more internal ways. The stories connected to each of these items are artifacts that remind me of the love in my life. Let me break it down:

My dress: This was my big Christmas gift last year from my parents. It was a dress out of my budget that I fell in love with when I tried it on as a whim. I don't know why (perhaps it was the stress of finals), but when I tried this dress on, I saw myself in a new way. Something about wearing this dress helped me see my potentials and made me feel beautiful. It's still difficult to articulate what this dress does to me- but after I tried it on I called my parents to tell them about this dress. I irrationally wanted this dress, and asked for it for Christmas. Every time I wear this dress, I feel the same things that I felt the first time I tried it on, and I am thankful for the way my parents understand me in ways that no one else ever has. Whether it means supporting my dreams, calling out bad decisions, or listening- my parents have always been there for me.

My cardigan: I used to work at Abercrombie & Fitch. In fact, it was my first job after college. When I accepted the job, I was flattered to be asked to work there (perhaps, an indulgence of my vanities and/or insecurities), but I thought it was a bit silly to work there for- oh, maybe the first two weeks. While working there, I was able to meet a variety of people. Maybe it's because I wear glasses, or perhaps it's because I'm a good listener- but during my time at A&F I heard a lot of people's stories. Coworker's stories, customer's stories- you name it. I don't work at A&F anymore, but I still shop there occasionally for two reasons (1) because their long sleeve tops are long enough for my arms and (2) because I like to remember the stories I heard while working at that store.

My tights: these are from Anthropologie. As you may recall from previous posts, this is my favorite store. I love how interactive the website is (customer reviews), I love the community of bloggers who gather around this store, and I love how so many different people with differing styles use their clothing, shoes, and accessories to tell their stories. Also, after a stressful week, a visit to this store always brings me a sense of peace and calm.

Yesterday was wonderful and I sincerely enjoyed celebrating the love that surrounds me. Before I go, I want to thank my friend Megan (the Queen of Scarves) for being my photog yesterday! I had so much fun on this photo shoot- thanks Meg-o!

*Also- Don't forget to enter my giveaway for the Vane & Joya solid perfume brooch!

Retail Details:

Off-White Lace Dress: Plenty by Tracy Reese (purchased at Anthropologie, "Spinning Lace Dress)

Grey Jeweled Cardigan: Abercrombie & Fitch

Charcoal Patent Leather Belt: Ann Taylor

Aubergine Cable Tights: Anthropologie

Charcoal Pumps: Cole Haan

Locket: American Eagle Outfitters

How to Dress Like a Gentleman and a Scholar

Greetings Readers!

I love featuring friends on this blog. What can I say- I have great friends, and I love bragging about them to the world. Today, it is my pleasure to introduce you all to my friend Eric. Eric is a public speaking instructor, graduate student, entrepreneur, gentleman, and the best dressed man in St. Louis (in my opinion).

Yesterday morning, I photographed Eric in his office and classroom and later interviewed him about his outfit, style, and his website. Here is the interview, followed by Eric's retail details:

Laura (me): First of all, you are one of the best dressed people who I know! How do you do it? (ie: Where do you get your inspiration? Where do you like to shop?)

Eric: Well thanks! I'm pretty simple when it comes to clothing, I put my pants on one leg at a time like everyone else. I just make sure those pants are Citizen's. To be totally honest, a lot of my inspiration comes from my sister. I had no fashion sense growing up and she took me under her wing and she still picks out a lot of stuff for me. So I've learned quite a bit from her. I typically shop at J. Crew, I get lots of shirts and sweaters from them. Jeans are typically from Nordstrom's, Citizen's are the only jeans I've found in a long time that are long enough for me, and I've got a thing for Cole Haan shoes.

L: How would you define your style? (This can be a few words, sentence/s, however long you chose to articulate this answer)

E: I think my style is pretty simple. I try to be pretty classic. I don't wear a lot of "trendy" stuff (no jeggings). The biggest thing with guys clothing is just wearing things that actually fit. I really don't feel like I put tons of effort into what I wear, I just make sure the stuff I buy is the right size. A proper fit and a little color go along way.

L: Does being a public speaking instructor influence your style? If so, how?

E: I think teaching plays a role in my wardrobe. I need clothes that I can teach in, but I can't afford to buy a whole separate closet full of "teacher" clothes. So over the last couple years I've combined my personal style with my work attire. Lots of button downs and sweaters.

L: What kind of story/narrative do you tell through your style? Through this outfit?

E: Hmmmm, I typically strive to convey a look that gets people to think, "Hey, he looks friendly and I bet he could find Monaco on a map".

L: Speaking of stories. . . tell me more about the website you recently launched (rateyourpatdown.com). Why is it important that airline passengers are able to have a place where they can voice their stories?

E: I think a lot of people have issues with pat-downs because they have to give up control in a sense. They don't have any power in the situation, so by creating a space that allows people to share their experiences, I hope that gives people a little bit of that power back. Maybe they can't do anything about it in the moment, but afterwards they have a place to speak their mind.

L: What advice would you give to other guys about style and fashion?

E: Wear clothing that fits. Don't be afraid of shirts that have color or patterns (that doesn't mean run out and buy some Tommy Bahama stuff) but try something other than a basic white dress shirt. Also, I usually like to have two layers, so if I have a button down I typically like a sweater, vest, or jacket over it. Also, invest in a decent pair of shoes. I think shoes say a lot about a person.

L: How do you find clothing that is long enough? I know that it's difficult for taller women to find clothing- what is the world of shopping like for a tall man?

E: Oh man, finding clothing that fits is a challenge. I tend to befriend places that do alterations. Brooks Brothers alters my shirts when I buy them, because typically to get them to fit in the arms they need to take in the waist. Jeans are even harder, when I find a jean style that fits I usually buy as many colors as I can at that time because I never know when I'll find a pair that fit again. Usually only happens every couple of years haha.

L: Is there anything else you would like to add?

E: Find good deals on clothes. I have expensive tastes, but I use sites like Gilt.com to get really good deals. I've purchases two pairs of Cole Haan's through them for over 50% off. You gotta be quick (like a few seconds after they go on sale), but the it's worth the effort to get a $200 pair of shoes for $95. Thanks Laura!

Retail Details:

Navy Blue Blazer: J. Crew

Blue Checked Shirt: Ralph Lauren

Jeans: Citizens of Humanity

Watch: Fossil

Shoes: Cole Haan

Shades: Mosely Tribes

Thanks for the interview Eric!